Thread storage and delivery device

ABSTRACT

A thread storage and delivery device for conveying a thread from a spool to a working point on a textile machine. The device comprises a drum for receiving and storing a thread reserve. A disk is disposed substantially transverse to the axis of the shaft and is axially slideably mounted on the shaft. The disk has arm portions which extend radially through openings formed in the drum casing, said arms being axially supported on said thread reserve. The arm portions may be inclined upwardly relative to the external drum periphery for permitting the thread to be properly wound on the drum and for causing the thread on the drum to be wedged axially therealong. The disk is urged downwardly of the drum, the movement of the disk depending on the size of the thread reserve. The axial displacement of the disk controls the feed of thread to the drum to permit control over the size of the yarn reserve.

Unite States Patent Rosen Feb. 20, 1973 [76] Inventor: Karl lsac Joel Rosen, Villa Haga,

Ulricehamn, Sweden [22] Filed: April 14, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 133,961

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 734,956, June 6, 1968.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 20, 1967 Sweden ..l4374/67 [52] US. Cl ..242/47.l2 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 51/20 [58] Field of Search..242/47.0l 47.03, 47.04, 47.07, 242/4712, 47.13; 66/132; 139/122 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,419,225 12/1968 Rosen ..242/47.l2 3,131,729 5/1964 Leysinger ...66/l32 UX 3,488,011 1/1970 lannucci ..242/47.0l

Primary ExaminerWerner H. Schroeder Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn [57] ABSTRACT A thread storage and delivery device for conveying a thread from a spool to a working point on a textile machine. The device comprises a drum for receiving and storing a thread reserve. A disk is disposed substantially transverse to the axis of the shaft and is axially slideably mounted on the shaft. The disk has arm portions which extend radially through openings formed in the drum casing, said arms being axially supported on said thread reserve. The arm portions may be inclined upwardly relative to the external drum periphery for permitting the thread to be properly wound on the drum and for causing the thread on the drum to be wedged axially therealong. The disk is urged downwardly of the drum, the movement of the disk depending on the size of the thread reserve. The axial displacement of the disk controls the feed of thread to the drum to permit control over the size of the yarn reserve.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures THREAD STORAGE AND DELIVERY DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 734,956, filed June-6, 1968, and entitled A Yarn Control Device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a thread storage and delivery device for conveying a thread from aspool to a working point of a textile machine. Said device comprises a storage drum for receivinga threadsupply and a control disk arranged in a plane substantially transverse to the axis of the storagedrum. The control disk has radial arm portions which extend through openings in the casing of the drum for axially sensing the thread supply.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thread storage and delivery devices are used to feed a thread to the working point of a textile machine, for example a knitting machine, weavers loom or spooling machine, with a low and constant tension. For. this purpose the storage drum, which is normally disposed overhead of the textile machine, has the thread tangentially threaded onto the storage drum tocreate a yarn or thread reserve on the drum, with the thread then being intermittently withdrawn from the drum in accordance with the desired thread use of the machine. For such intermittent use, the thread is normally withdrawn substantially axially from the lower end of the storage drum. However, devices of this type can also be used for a positive thread feed, in which case the thread is normally pulled from the drum in a substantially tangential direction. However, irrespective of whether the device is used for positive or intermittent feed, the amount or number of windings of thread on the drum is generally maintained within predetermined limits.

In the known thread storage devices, such as disclosed in my prior US. Pat. No. 3,419,225, the magnitude of the thread reserve is maintained within predetermined limits by means of a control disk which is pivotal about a rotary axis extending transverse to the axis of the storage drum, whereupon the disk tilts relative to the drum axis and controls a switch disposed in the drive motor circuit for controlling the rotation of the storage drum. When the thread supply increases, the feed disk is pushed back to turn off the drum drive whereas when the thread supply diminishes, the disk tilts in the opposite direction and the drive is thereby again energized to permit additional thread to be fed onto the drum. Other known thread storage and delivery devices have utilized other types of control means for monitoring the amount of thread on the drum, such as light or electrical scanning means.

The thread storage and delivery device disclosed in my prior US. Pat. No. 3,419,225 has proven highly successful as a device for maintaining a predetermined yarn reserve which can then be intermittently or continuously supplied to the working point of a textile machine. However, this invention is the result of a continuous effort on the part of Applicant to improve the operation of the storage device, while at the same time minimize the cost and structural complexity thereof.

Particularly, with the thread storage device utilizing a tiltable feed disk, it was necessary to position the thread storage device and the feeddisk in the correct angular orientation with respect to the thread supply location so that the thread would not become caught or tangled between the extending arms of the disk. This problem was occasioned by two factors, the first. being that the arms on the disk extend in a purely radial direction, and the second being that the disk was normally disposed in an inclined relationship relative to the axis of the drum.

Accordingly, it isan object of this invention to pro.- vide an improved thread storage and delivery device which overcomes the above disadvantages by utilizing a thread control disk which does not tilt relative to the drum axis so that the arms which project outwardly beyond the periphery of the drum are disposed at the same elevation around the complete periphery of. the drum whereby the storage device is thus circumferentially symmetrical. Further, the arm portions of the disk which extend through the drum for controlling the yarn reserve may be inclined upwardly at a substantial angle relative to the drum periphery whereby they are highly effective in advancing the yarn reserve axially along the drum while at the same time the slope of the arms prevents the yarn from becoming caught or tangled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device, as aforesaid, which has the control disk mounted in a plane transverse to the drum axis and disposed for free slideable movement axially of the drum, thereby substantially simplifying the structure of the thread storage device by not requiring any bearings or pivot devices for mounting the feed disk.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with devices of this type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating therein a thread storage and delivery device constructed according to the present invention and used in combination with a yarn spool.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the thread storage and delivery device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross-section, taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2 and illustrating therein the construction of the control disk.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrating therein a modified construction of the control disk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION on the shaft for slideable movement axially thereof. The control disk is continuously urged downwardly relative to the spool toward a predetermined lowermost position, and is disposed for coaction with and actuation of a switch when moved axially upwardly. The switch is electrically connected with the drive means for controlling the rotation of the spool. The control disk includes radially extending arm portions which extend through the slots formed in the spool, with the individual arm portions extending radially outwardly and upwardly at a substantial angle relative to the periphery of the spool body. A thread or yarn is supplied to and wound onto the periphery of the spool body directly under the projecting arms to create a yarn reserve,

which yarn reserve axially supports the arm portions of the control disk. When the yarn reserve is of sufficient size to cause the control disk to be urged axially upwardly into contact with the switch, then the drive means is deenergized to prevent further yarn from being wound onto the spool. When the yarn reserve decreases below a predetermined minimum, then the control disk moves downwardly away from the switch to permit closure thereof whereby the drive means is energized to cause rotation of the spool so that further thread is wound onto the spool to increase the size of the yarn reserve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Considering now the detailed structure of the present invention, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an arm 11 which forms a holder for a yarn package 12. A knitting or textile machine may be provided with any number of such arms. The yarns 13, as shown by the arrows, is drawn off from the package 12 in an upward direction and runs through a yarn eye 14 and then through a slotted or hollow arm 16 down to a yarn spanner 17. From the yarn spanner 17, the yarn runs through a stopper with eyes 18 to the yarn storage and delivery device 21. The yarn 13 is drawn off from the device 21 and runs thereafter via a further guiding eye 19, for example, to the knitting place on a knitting machine (not shown).

The thread storage and delivery device 21 of the present invention, as illustrated in detail in FIG. 2, comprises a hollow cylindrical spool or drum 22 rotatably supported on a vertical shaft 23 by conventional bearings 24. The shaft 23 is, in the illustrated embodiment, fixedly secured at its upper end to the arm or frame 1 l. The spool 22 is provided in its upper portion with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 26 evenly spaced about its periphery. An annular control disk 27 is disposed inside the spool 22 and is both rotatably and axially slideably supported on the shaft 23. For this purpose, the control disk 27 is provided with an annular hub or bearing portion 31 which is rotatably and axially slideably supported on the shaft 23.

The control disk 27, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is disposed within a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 23. The disk 27 is provided at its outer periphery with a plurality of circumferentially spaced arm portions 28, which arm portions extend both radially outwardly and axially upwardly into and through the slots 26 so that the free ends of the arm portions are spaced outwardly from the external periphery of the spool 22. The arm portions 28 extend upwardly at an angle, in this embodiment, of approximately 45 relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 23. Further, since the external peripheral surface of the spool 22 is substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 23, the arm portions 28 define an angle of approximately with respect to the periphery of the spool 22 as disposed directly below the arm portions.

While the arm portions 28 may extend freely outwardly in a cantilever manner as illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be recognized that the arm portions 28 could also be fixedly interconnected adjacent their radially outer ends by means of a continuous annular ring 29 (FIG. 4) if so desired, which annular ring 29 would be disposed externally of and encircle the spool 22.

The feed disk 27 is normally resiliently urged axially downwardly by means of a spring 32'. Spring 32 encircles the shaft 23 and has one end thereof disposed against a stop member 33 which is fixedly secured to the shaft 23. The other end of spring 32 normally bears against an annular seat member 34, which member 34 is in turn resiliently urged against the disk 27 to urge same downwardly. The downward movement of the disk 27 is normally limited by any suitable stop mechanism, such as by the lower axial end of the hub 31 abutting against the inner race of the upper bearing 24. The seat member 34 is nonrotatably connected to the shaft 23 by any suitable means, such as an axial key, for enabling the member 34 to freely axially slide along the shaft in synchronization with the disk 27.

The yarn storage and delivery device 21 is, in the illustrated embodiment, provided with a conventional electric motor 36 for causing rotation of the spool 22. The motor 36 has a rotor portion 37 fixedly secured to the spool 22 and a stator portion 38 fixedly secured to the shaft 23. The motor 36 is electrically connected for control by a switch 39 which, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is fixedly mounted within the interior of the spool body 22, as by being mounted on the stop member 33. The switch 39 comprises a conventional normally closed microswitch having a movable switch plunger 41 extending from the casing thereof. Plunger 41 is disposed to be contacted and depressed by the seat member 34 when the disk 27 and seat member 34 are moved axially upwardly into their uppermost position.

The switch 39 and motor 36 are electrically connected with one another and with a suitable power source by means of conventional conductors 42 whereby switch 39 thus controls energization of motor 36, which in turn controlsrotation of spool 22. Energization of motor 36 and rotation of spool 22 results in the thread being wound onto the spool 22 to create a yarn or thread reserve 43 on the periphery of the spool directly below the radially extending arm portions 28. The thread as fed from the spool 22 to the textile machine is withdrawn from the lower axial end of the spool after passing under the thread guide ring 44.

OPERATION The operation of the thread storage and delivery device 21 constructed according to the present invention will be briefly described.

When starting the knitting machine, the yarn 13 is put through the eye 14, the arm 16, the spanner l7 and the yarn eyes 18. A few turns of yarn is then laid around the spool 22, with the yarn then being led through the ring 44 and the yarn guide 19 so as to be connected to the knitting place of the knitting machine. When only a few turns of yarn are situated on the spool body 22, the disk 27 will be urged by the spring 32 downwardly towards its lowermost position so that the seat member 34 will be moved away from the switch plunger 41, thereby enabling the switch 39 to be maintained in its normally closed position. This causes energization of motor 36 whereby spool body 22 will be rotated. As the spool 22 is rotated, the yarn is fed tangentially onto the spool. The resilient urging of the spring 32 causes the freshly and previously wound yarn turns to be moved axially downwardly on the spool body. However, as the number of turns contained in the yarn reserve 43 increases to a predetermined amount, then the resistance of the yarn reserve to further downward axial movement along the spool 22 becomes so great that the control disk 27 is no longer able to move the yarn reserve downwardly. Rather, the yarn reserve imposes an upward pressure on the disk 27 so that as further yarn turns are wound onto the spool, the disk 27 is slideably moved upwardly against the resilient urging of spring 32 until the member 34 causes depression of the plunger 41. This causes switch 39 to be opened, thereby causing deenergization of motor 36. This thus stops the spool rotation and prevents any further increase in the size of the yarn reserve 43.

When the knitting machine needs yarn, the yarn is drawn off of the spool body 22 from the lower axial end thereof, the yarn being guided by the ring 44. As the size of the yarn reserve 43 decreases due to the yarn being drawn off the spool 22, the pressure between the yarn reserve and the spool similarly decreases until a condition is reached whereby the spring 32 is again able to push the disk 27 and the yarn reserve 43 axially downwardly along the spool 22. This downward urging of the yarn reserve 43 continues until the member 34 again permits the plunger 41 to be resiliently extended, thereby enabling the switch 39 to return to its normally closed position to again energize motor 36 and cause rotation of spool 22 to permit further turns of yarn to be wound on the spool to increase the size of the yarn reserve 43. The yarn reserve 43 will again be increased in size until the disk 27 is again moved axially upwardly to cause opening of the switch 39.

It will be recognized that numerous modifications could be made in the present invention without departing from the scope thereof. For example, the storage spool 22 could be maintained stationary with the yarn being fed onto the spool by means of a rotating spool arm, such as disclosed in FIG. 1 of my copending application Ser. No. 734,956 Furthermore, the control disk 27 need not cause direct operation of a switch, but could be used to directly control the thread supply feed, such as by controlling a releasable drive coupling or the like.

Further, while the disclosed embodiment utilizes a motor mounted directly within the spool body, it will be apparent that the spool body could also be rotatably driven by means of a suitable transmission mechanism connected to either the knitting machine or an externally located drive mechanism, such as illustrated in FIG. 3 of my copending application Ser. No. 734,956. Still further, the present invention could also desirably be used in combination with a swingable control arm of the type disclosed in my above-mentioned application Ser. No. 734,956 for permitting the thread storage and delivery device to be utilized for permitting both intermittent and positive feeding of yarn to a textile machine.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A thread storage and delivery device for conveying a thread from a spool to a working point of a textile machine, comprising a storage drum for receiving a thread supply thereon, the storage drum having a plurality of longitudinal openings extending through the wall thereof, disk means substantially nonrotatably connected relative to said drum, said disk means in-..

cluding a plurality of radial arm portions extending through said longitudinal openings and axially supported on said thread supply, mounting means coacting between said disk means and said drum for permitting only linear reciprocation of said disk means relative to said drum in a direction parallel to the axis of said drum, and control means controlling the thread feed to the drum, said control means being operable by the movement of said disk means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes switch means disposed for operation by the movement of said disk means.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said arm portions project radially outwardly beyond the external periphery of said drum and extend in nonperpendicular relation relative to said drum, said arm portions defining a substantially truncated conical surface in surrounding relationship to said drum.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said drum is disposed with its longitudinal axis oriented substantially vertically, and wherein said arm portions extend radially outwardly and upwardly relative to the external periphery of said drum.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said arm portions are inclined at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the external periphery of said drum.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said disk means includes a central disk portion disposed within the interior of said drum and having said arm portions fixedly secured to and extending radially outwardly and axially upwardly from the external periphery thereof, said central disk portion comprising a planar, plate-like member disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said drum.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a substantially vertically directed shaft with said drum being coaxially and concentrically supported on said shaft, said disk means including an elongated hub portion slideably supported on said shaft for axial movement therealong, and biasing means including spring means urging said disk means axially downwardly relative to said drum.

8. A device according to claim 7, further including means supporting said drum for rotation, drive means interconnected to said drum for permitting selected rotation thereof, and said control means being operatively connected to said drive means for controlling the operation thereof, said control means being disposed for actuation by said disk means when said disk means is in one of its extreme axial positions.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said control means comprises electrical switch means connected in series with said drive means for controlling the operation thereof, said electrical switch means being disposed for actuation by said disk means when said disk means is in its uppermost axial position to cause deenergization of said drive means to prevent further thread from being wound onto said spool, movement of said disk means to its lowermost axial position causing same to disengage said switch means whereby said switch means will then cause energization of said drive means to cause rotation of said drum to permit further thread to be wound onto said spool.

10. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes shaft means coaxial with said storage drum, and said disk means being slideabiy supported on said shaft means for linear movement in the axial direction of said drum.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said disk is axially movable relative to said drum between first and second positions, biasing means for normally urging said disk means toward said first position, winding means associated with said drum for permitting thread to be selectively wound thereon, and said control means associated with said winding means for controlling the operation thereof, said control means being disposed for coaction with said disk means when said disk means is in one of said axial positions for causing activation of said winding means to permit further thread to be wound onto said drum when said disk means is in said first position.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said control means includes switch means disposed for contact and actuation by said disk means when said disk means is in said second position, said second position being disposed vertically above said first position.

13. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said am portions project radially outwardly beyond the external periphery of said drum, and a continuous annular rim fixedly secured to said arm portions adjacent the outer edges thereof, said annular rim being disposed externally of and in surrounding relationship to said drum.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes means slidably supporting said disk means for linear movement as a unit between first and second positions which are axially spaced from one another relative'to said drum, said disk means being normally urged axially of said drum as a unit toward said first position, the build up of the thread supply on said drum causing the disk means to be moved as a unit linearly toward said second position. 

1. A thread storage and delivery device for conveying a thread from a spool to a working point of a textile machine, comprising a storage drum for receiving a thread supply thereon, the storage drum having a plurality of longitudinal openings extending through the wall thereof, disk means substantially nonrotatably connected relative to said drum, said disk means including a plurality of radial arm portions extending through said longitudinal openings and axially supported on said thread supply, mounting means coacting between said disk means and said drum for permitting only linear reciprocation of said disk means relative to said drum in a direction parallel to the axis of said drum, and control means controlling the thread feed to the drum, said control means being operable by the movement of said disk means.
 1. A thread storage and delivery device for conveying a thread from a spool to a working point of a textile machine, comprising a storage drum for receiving a thread supply thereon, the storage drum having a plurality of longitudinal openings extending through the wall thereof, disk means substantially nonrotatably connected relative to said drum, said disk means including a plurality of radial arm portions extending through said longitudinal openings and axially supported on said thread supply, mounting means coacting between said disk means and said drum for permitting only linear reciprocation of said disk means relative to said drum in a direction parallel to the axis of said drum, and control means controlling the thread feed to the drum, said control means being operable by the movement of said disk means.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes switch means disposed for operation by the movement of said disk means.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said arm portions project radially outwardly beyond the external periphery of said drum and extend in nonperpendicular relation relative to said drum, said arm portions defining a substantially truncated conical surface in surrounding relationship to said drum.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said drum is disposed with its longitudinal axis oriented substantially vertically, and wherein said arm portions extEnd radially outwardly and upwardly relative to the external periphery of said drum.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said arm portions are inclined at an angle of approximately 45 *relative to the external periphery of said drum.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said disk means includes a central disk portion disposed within the interior of said drum and having said arm portions fixedly secured to and extending radially outwardly and axially upwardly from the external periphery thereof, said central disk portion comprising a planar, plate-like member disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said drum.
 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a substantially vertically directed shaft with said drum being coaxially and concentrically supported on said shaft, said disk means including an elongated hub portion slideably supported on said shaft for axial movement therealong, and biasing means including spring means urging said disk means axially downwardly relative to said drum.
 8. A device according to claim 7, further including means supporting said drum for rotation, drive means interconnected to said drum for permitting selected rotation thereof, and said control means being operatively connected to said drive means for controlling the operation thereof, said control means being disposed for actuation by said disk means when said disk means is in one of its extreme axial positions.
 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said control means comprises electrical switch means connected in series with said drive means for controlling the operation thereof, said electrical switch means being disposed for actuation by said disk means when said disk means is in its uppermost axial position to cause deenergization of said drive means to prevent further thread from being wound onto said spool, movement of said disk means to its lowermost axial position causing same to disengage said switch means whereby said switch means will then cause energization of said drive means to cause rotation of said drum to permit further thread to be wound onto said spool.
 10. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes shaft means coaxial with said storage drum, and said disk means being slideably supported on said shaft means for linear movement in the axial direction of said drum.
 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said disk is axially movable relative to said drum between first and second positions, biasing means for normally urging said disk means toward said first position, winding means associated with said drum for permitting thread to be selectively wound thereon, and said control means associated with said winding means for controlling the operation thereof, said control means being disposed for coaction with said disk means when said disk means is in one of said axial positions for causing activation of said winding means to permit further thread to be wound onto said drum when said disk means is in said first position.
 12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said control means includes switch means disposed for contact and actuation by said disk means when said disk means is in said second position, said second position being disposed vertically above said first position.
 13. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said arm portions project radially outwardly beyond the external periphery of said drum, and a continuous annular rim fixedly secured to said arm portions adjacent the outer edges thereof, said annular rim being disposed externally of and in surrounding relationship to said drum. 